That was the question: What happens in the event of lightning? I recently had lunch with a group of individuals that included a cable engineer and lightning was was the topic of conversation. I asked him about the issue and what solutions had been engineered to avoid service disruptions due to it. Much to everyone’s...
A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT MAKE YOUR CITIES WORK (OR NOT): Number of Montrealers using a bicycle as a principal or occasional method of transportation: 241,000 % of total population: 18 Average cycling deaths in Montreal between 2005-2009: 3.6 Average cycling deaths in Toronto between 2005-2009: 2.5 MTA’s (New York’s) primary...
A while back I asked readers to help find information about 9 virtually unknown cable systems around the world. Regarding the Ngong Ping 360 in Hong Kong, Scott Burling contributed this guest post (with pictures): The Ngong Ping 360 connects Tung Chung MTR (Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway) station with Ngong Ping village, and the...
In yesterday’s post I put forth the idea that maybe there is a psychological impact caused by how we design public transit. That there is a kind of Emotional Transit Planning that doesn’t occur but should. That maybe having sunlight and a view would be psychologically more beneficial to the average commuter than being stuck...
I’m fond of subways, but I don’t like riding them. They’re fast and efficient and they make a statement. They’re also ridiculously expensive. But that’s not the point. The point is this: What is the psychological impact of traveling to and from work every day underground, in the dark? In my own life, if I...
The Toronto Star reports today that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and a waterfront development agency are at loggerheads over a planned new streetcar corridor. The essence of the conflict is this: The Toronto Transit Commission wants to experiment with track design on a new streetcar route to speed up Toronto’s failingly low streetcar speeds...
During peak loads/rush hours gondolas have a seat to standee ratio of around 3:1 or 4:1. That is, at crush loads there will be three or four people sitting for every one person whose standing. And Light Rail, buses or subways? Around 1:1 or 2:1. In an age where transit agencies are finally talking about...
Brian T. suggests that Pittsburgh’s challenging topography (not to mention finances) and its historical association with cable transit solutions might make it an early adopter of urban gondolas. Check out the route he devised on google maps (make sure to view it in Earth mode, to fully appreciate Pittsburgh’s topography). With the growth of various...
A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT MAKE YOUR CITIES WORK (OR NOT): Number of minutes before a train is considered late in New Jersey Transit: 6 minutes Percent of trains arriving within 6 minutes of scheduled time: 94% Percent of trains arrived at scheduled time: 68% Number of cities in 1940s China: 69 Number of cities in 2007 China: 670 Percent of land area occupied by cities: 4.4...
Ultimately, the problem with public transit is one of economics. Our current transit systems have no ability to adjust the supply of their inventory levels (seats) to match a given demand (ridership) at a given time of day. Its inventory is completely inflexible: Rush Hour: Too much demand, not enough supply. Late Night: Some demand,...